Traffic Safety Meta-Analysis of Reversible Lanes
Date
2019-08-01
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Abstract
In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to review the potential effects of reversible lanes on traffic safety. After a systematic literature review, ten U.S studies were selected for inclusion in the analysis. These studies employed either a simple before-after comparison or a cross-sectional comparison methodology. Study results were extracted by transforming the collision rates and frequencies of these studies into a log-odds ratio. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that a 30.9% increase in total collisions is expected. Property-damage-only collisions are expected to increase by 16.6% and injury collisions are expected to increase by 34.9%. Peak period collisions are expected to increase by 46.2%, while off-peak period collisions are expected to increase by 12.8%. The results were significant, with the exception of the off-peak period collision result. A meta-regression was performed, which regress variables related to study type, collision type and operational characteristics of the study locations on the extracted log odds ratio. It was found that peak period operations were positively and significantly correlated with an increase in crashes. Study quality as observed through the study type variable was found to be a significant variable. Presence of left-turn restrictions was negatively correlated and significant, suggesting that application of a left-turn restriction can improve the safety of reversible lanes. The presence of delineator/barrier was generally negatively correlated, and both the presence of dynamic traffic control and static traffic control were generally positively correlated. Topics of time/study age trends and transferability were also discussed.
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Manuel, A. (2019). Traffic Safety Meta-Analysis of Reversible Lanes (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.